A/N: To new readers - this chapter is short, but sets up the tone for both halves of this story; both the serious side and the funny side.
To those who have already read this chapter - please read it again! I've made some subtle but important changes to it that WILL have implications further on.
Enjoy!
~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`!
If Gwaine were ever to try and count the number of times Arthur has told him to "go get Merlin's arse out of the tavern this instant!" the task would require all his fingers and toes and then some.
Truly, Arthur's request befuddles him. Why, out of all knights of the round table, would anyone, ever consider Gwaine the best person to fetch someone from a tavern? And what he definitely does not understand is how Arthur can still be under the impression that Merlin is at the tavern in the first place. Certainly Gwaine spends a considerable portion of his free time there, but he's only ever seen his friend in the vicinity of the The Rising Sun a handful of times unless in the company of the knights or Arthur himself. Furthermore Gwaine has never managed to bring Merlin back from the tavern at Arthur's request. His friend hasn't been there.
Despite all this Arthur seems convinced that Merlin spends much of his time at the local establishment. Knowing Merlin, this is probably a purposefully propagated cover for something, there's probably a good reason for this façade. Gwaine trusts his first and best friend. Though... he'd love it if he could be in on the joke. Perhaps if he can discover Merlin's secret on his own?
Besides, why pass up the continuation of King sanctioned trips to the best ale in Camelot?
